Session C8
6279
Disclaimer — This paper partially fulfills the writing requirement for first year (freshman) engineering students at the
University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering. This paper is a student, not a professional, paper. This paper is
based on publicly available information and may not be provide a complete analysis of all relevant data. If this paper is used
for any purpose other than these author’s partial fulfillment of a writing requirement for first year (freshman) engineering
students at the University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering, the user does so at his or her own risk.
AIRBORNE WIND TURBINES
William Roskopf, wrr8@pitt.edu, Mena, 4:00, Devon Sangrey, dms187@pitt.edu, Mena, 6:00
Revised Proposal —
The issue of renewable energy is important to all
engineers because of the need to develop new energy
technologies in order to minimize fossil fuel consumption
around the world. Airborne wind turbines are tethered to the
ground with a cable, unlike standard wind turbines which are
attached to the ground with a tower, allowing the airborne
wind turbines to reach altitudes that standard wind turbines
simply cannot match. At higher altitudes in earth’s
atmosphere there are much stronger winds, and airborne wind
turbines utilize these strong winds to maximize the amount of
energy produced. This could greatly outweigh the amount of
energy
produced
by
traditional
wind
turbines
[1]. Additionally, airborne wind turbines can substantially
reduce the cost of construction since a large, costly metal
tower is not necessary for operation. Many people believe
that airborne wind turbines are more aesthetically pleasing,
and will reduce the local backlash that frequently plague
traditional wind turbine farms [2].
Airborne wind turbines are superior to traditional turbines
in a number of ways. Standard wind turbines often collide
with and kill wildlife. The turbines are at the same height as
flying wildlife, causing many populations of birds in areas
with wind farms to decrease. Since airborne turbines are
flown at an altitude of about 1,000 feet, higher than that of a
bird, collisions with wildlife can be decreased. Another
problem with a traditional wind farm is noise. The rotation of
large metal turbines can result in loud and unpleasant sound.
However, since the airborne turbines fly at such a high
altitude, this is not a problem for them.
The ethics of airborne wind turbines is currently
questionable simply due to the lack of regulation. Certain
airborne wind turbines have up to a 213 foot wingspan (the
same size as a Boeing 747) so if it becomes removed from its
tether and falls to the ground, or floats away and collides in
the air with a plane, the outcome would be catastrophic and
obviously endanger people’s lives, violating the professional
engineer’s code of ethics [3]. Once more regulations and
testing are put in place to improve the safety of airborne wind
turbines then they, just like airplanes, can surely become a
safe and common energy technology used all over the world.
The information will be presented by identifying the
issues associated with traditional wind turbines and
describing the ways the new technology will solve these
problems. Case studies will be used to analyze the energy
University of Pittsburgh Swanson School of Engineering 1
2016/01/29
production and cost of airborne wind turbines compared to
traditional wind turbines.
REFERENCES
[1] (2015). “Floating wind turbines bring electricity where it's
needed.” National Science Foundation. (Online Article).
http://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id
=134023.
[2] D. Levitan. (2012). “High-Altitude Wind Energy: Huge
Potential — And Hurdles.” Environment 360. (Online
Article).
http://e360.yale.edu/feature/high_altitude_wind_energy
_huge_potential_and_hurdles/2576/
[3] (2007). “Code of Ethics for Engineers.” National Society
of
Professional
Engineers.
(Online
Article).
http://www.nspe.org/resources/ethics/code-ethics.
TOPIC AREA: ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERING
Airborne wind turbines most closely relate to the topic of
Energy and Environmental Engineering. Although a large
number of engineers play a role in a wind energy project,
Environmental Engineers are responsible for identifying and
minimizing the environmental impact that is created by the
generation of wind power. Environmental engineers are
responsible for determining the negative effects this new
technology could have on the environment as well as thinking
of ways to solve these possible problems.
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
(2010) “Assessing the Potential for an Airborne Wind Energy
test-site in Ireland.” Carbon Tracking Ltd. (EIS).
http://www.carbontracking.com/reports/BGE_Testsite_Repo
rt_Rev_N.pdf.
This source is an environmental impact statement
(EIS) for an airborne wind energy test site in Ireland. The
source contains information about the potential impact that
the technology could have on the environment. The
information will be used to present data about the effects
airborne wind turbines have on the environment and the
people living near the site.
William Roskopf
Devon Sangrey
(2014). “Choosing a topic video” University of
Pittsburgh.
(Video).
http://pitt.libguides.com/c.php?g=12277&p=67826.
This video was very important in the decision
making process for this paper. It allowed for the topic to be
narrowed down to a reasonable size instead of being too broad
like it originally was.
D. Levitan. (2012). “High-Altitude Wind Energy:
Huge Potential — And Hurdles.” Environment 360. (Online
Article).
http://e360.yale.edu/feature/high_altitude_wind_energy_hug
e_potential_and_hurdles/2576/.
This article published in Yale 360, contains research
done on an airborne wind turbine. The article contains
information such as the size of the turbine and the potential
energy output. This information will be used to strengthen our
belief that airborne wind turbines are superior to traditional
turbines. We will use these statistics in our comparison of the
two methods.
(2007). “Code of Ethics for Engineers.” National
Society of Professional Engineers. (Online Article).
http://www.nspe.org/resources/ethics/code-ethics.
The code of ethics provided by the National Society
of Professional Engineers outlines the role of an engineer
from an ethical standpoint. The article provides professional
engineers with guidelines to follow when an ethical decision
needs to be made. The information in the code of ethics will
be used to evaluate airborne wind turbines and to determine if
they are an ethical piece of technology.
A. Cherubini, R. Vertechy, M. Fontana (2016).
“Simplified Model of Offshore Airborne Wind Energy
Converters.”
Renewable
Energy.
(Journal).
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S09601481
15304791.
This article, from a peer reviewed journal about
renewable energy, describes a scenario where airborne wind
turbines are used offshore to generate energy. The article
identifies a potential problem with turbines located offshore
and ways to solve this problem. This article will be used to
present information about a possible location for airborne
wind turbines to be used.
M. Maehlum (2015). “Wind Energy Pros and Cons.”
Energy
Informative.
(Online
article).
http://energyinformative.org/wind-energy-pros-and-cons/.
This article, from a website specializing in informing
the general public about renewable energy. This article in
particular explains the advantages and disadvantages of wind
power, and more importantly, traditional wind turbines. The
article describes the social and economic impact wind
turbines can have on a surrounding community. Information
from this article will help us show how airborne wind turbines
are capable of solving current problems with wind energy.
(2016). “Technology Overview.” Altaeros energies.
(Online Article). http://www.altaerosenergies.com/.
Altaeros Energies is the leading company in the
development of airborne wind turbines. Their website
provides information on the design and capabilities of their
wind turbine. The website also provides information about
possible additions to the ability of an airborne wind turbine as
well as the new problems they will be able to solve. The
information in this website will be used to show an example
of a company that is actually designing this technology and
exploring new ways for the technology to be used.
(2015). “Floating wind turbines bring electricity
where it's needed.” National Science Foundation. (Online
Article).
http://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=134
023.
This article, written by the National Science
Foundation, provides information about a specific airborne
wind turbine. The article contains statistics about the turbine
as well as explaining how they work and will be able to be
used. Information for this article will be used to provide some
more information on our technology as well as to give our
readers facts about the size of the machine.
(2016). “What is a Wind Energy Engineer?”
Environmental
Science.
(Online
article).
http://www.environmentalscience.org/career/wind-energyengineer.
This article, written by Environmental Science,
describes the job of a wind engineer. The article also contains
valuable information on the role of other types of engineers
on a wind energy project. The information gathered from this
article will help us know the role of a mechanical engineer on
a project that would use airborne wind turbines to generate
energy.
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